A child's first introduction to books is through stories read aloud to them by others. These have lots of colorful pictures and/or pop-up 3D features to entertain the child while the adult turns the pages. The amount of text is minimal.
Books that teach numbers, colors, shapes and letters are first read with the help of an adult and then gradually encourage the child to start recognizing patterns, sounding out words and reading on his own.
Fairy tales, myths and Bible stories transport young readers to fantasy realms and impart valuable lessons about good versus evil and the consequences of choices.
Exposure to the works of Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, Roald Dahl and Louisa May Alcott increases a child's vocabulary and develops the concentration skills required to follow a plot from start to finish.
Books such as Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" series teach children what it was like to grow up in an earlier time and help them appreciate modern conveniences.
Contemporary titles addressing issues such as peer pressure, divorce and puberty invite young readers to analyze how they'd handle difficult situations themselves.